Thermometer-holder.



W. S. ATCHISON. THERMOMETER HOLDER. APPLIOATION'IILED MAY 4, 1912.

1,034,380. Patented July 30, 1912.

NITE STATES PATEnT OFFICE.

WINFIELD s. arcn'rson, or WASHINGTON, nrs'rnrc'r F oo'tUMBrA.

THERMOMETER-HOLDER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WINFIELD'S. Arom- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Thermometer-Holders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to holders for that class of electric thermometers employing an lateral strain thereupon.

Another object is to provide adjustable means whereby the electrical circuit may be arrangedto close at any given contact point on the thermometer.

A further object is to provide a holder which will be strong, durable, light, convenient to handle, and inexpensive in construction.

'Other objects will appear inthe subjoined description. I

The invention consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved holder, with a thermometer inoperative osition therein; Fig. 2 is a side elevation o the holder viewed in the direction of the. arrow a in Fig. 1, with the lower end of the holder partly broken away and shown in section to disclose the plug used as a closure ,for the lower end of the holder; Fig. 3 shows a top plan View of the closure at the upper end of the holder; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the holder, viewed in the direction of the arrow 6 in Fig. 1-; Fig. 5 is a broken section of the upper end of the holder showing means for firmly engaging the thermometer without imposing lateral strain thereupon, and for holding the thermometer against rotation in the holder; Fig. 6 is a transverse section on an enlarged scale, of my device applied to a thermometer, the section being taken on line 66 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 7 is a verti- 5 cal section of a portion of one kind of ther- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jul} 30, 1912. Application filed ma 4, 1912. Serial No. 695,230.

-mo meter with which my device is adapted to be used.

The numeral 1 indicates a thermometer of well known type, which is provided with a plurality of contacts consisting of copper bands 'w, 0;, y and 2, arranged for electrical communication with the column of mercury lnside the thermometer. The tubular casing or holder 2 surrounds and protects the upper part of the thermometer that would ordinarily be more or less exposed. This tube is provided at its upper and lower ends with the close fitting plugs 3 and 4 respectively, which are provided with the openings 3 and 4 of suitablesize to receive the thermometer. This casing is provided on its front side with a longitudinal slot 5 through which the graduations of the thermometer may be read; and on its right and left sides it is also provided with the slots 6 and 7 respectively, in which the binding posts 6, 7 and 7", are adjustably held. The opening 3 of the top plug 3 is provided at one side with a recess 3, adapted to receive the horizontal nib 1* (Fig. 5) at the upper end of the thermometer, to prevent the thermometer from turning in the casing. The stationary binding post 8 for the common return, is located preferably at the right side of the tube near the lower end thereof. The binding posts are all alike,

- each one being provided with a head 9 to engage the inner: wall of the 'tube, with a clamping nut 10 to engage the outer wall thereof, and with the usual jam-nut 11. Each binding post is also provided with a central threaded bore through which passes a diminutive threaded bolt 13 with a milled head 13. These bolts with their binding posts serve two purposes. First, they serve as electrical contact points for engaging the copper bands on the thermometer, to make electrical connections with the mercury. in the, thermometer; and secondly, they may be so arranged that when one is forced against a band at one side of the thermoine ter, the other may be forced against it at the side diametrically opposite, whereby the thermometer is clamped, as it were, between the two posts, and any preponderance of lateral strain in either direction is thereby prevented. The clamping of the thermometer between any' two of these diametrically opposite posts also serves to keep the thermometer from turning in the tube.

the slots maybe used indifferently-either r for engaging as abutment posts or as contact posts as the needs of each case may require.- f

If the tube 2 of my device were formed 01 a material which is a conductor of electricity, I would of course, be compelled to provide the binding posts. of my device with suitable non-conducting bushings; but I prefer to form the entire tube 2 of non-conduct.

ing material, such as hard rubber, compressed fiber, or other material which is a non-conductor of electricity, and in this way avoid the extra expense and other disadvantages of insulating bushings. From the above description and drawlngs, it is apparent that my device is capable of use with electric contact thermometers for a great variety of purposes, and it is thought that the operation will be clearly understood without further description.

In Fig. 1, I have shown the copper band to located near the top of the thermometer, and a circuit, containing an alarm, es

tablished between it and the return post 8, so that if under any circumstances the mercury should rise so high as to indicate special danger or be in danger of breaking the thermometer, an alarm wouldbe sounded, in addition to the ordinary operation of.

the device. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A holder for electrical contact thermometers, comprising a hollow casing formed of nonconducting material, provided with means for receiving and holding a thermometer therein, and having diametrically opposite contacts adapted to engage the contacts of the thermometer, and means for connecting said former contacts with circuit wires.

2. A holder for electric contact thermometers, comprising a hollow casing formed of non-conducting material, a removable closure for each end of the casing, said closures having and hold the thermometer in the casing, said casing having an opening for viewing the graduations of the there-mometer, diametrically opposite contacts carried by the casing the contacts of the thermometer, and means for connecting said former contacts with circuit wires.

suitable openings adapted to receive 3. A holder for electric contact thermometers, comprising a hollow casing formed of non-conducting material, a removable closure for each end of the casing, said closures having suitable openings adapted to receive and hold the thermometer in the casing, said casing having an opening for viewing the graduations of the thermometer, diametrically opposite contacts carried by the casing and arranged for adjustment thereon and adapted to engage the contacts of the thermometer, and means for connecting the contacts of'the casing with the circuit wires.

4. A holder for an electric contact ther- 1111011161361, comprising a tubular casing formed of non-conducting material, and provided with a closure at each end of the casing, said closures having openings adapted to receive and hold the thermometer in the casing, said casing having an opening for viewing the graduations of the thermometer, and a fixed contact in engagement with one of the contacts of the thermometer, said casing also having a longitudinal slot diametrically opposite said fixed contact and provided with a contact adapted to move back and forth therein for adjustable engagement with the contacts of the thermometer, and means for connecting said adjustable contact with the circuit wire.

5. A holder for an electric contact thermometer, comprising a tubular casing formed of non-conducting materialand provided with aclosure at each end of the casing, said closures having openings adapted to receive and hold the thermometer in the casing said casing having an opening at its front side for viewing the graduatlons of the thermometer, and also having slots in its right and left sides provided with contacts adapted to be moved back and forth therein to adjustably engage the contacts of the thermometer, and means for connecting said contacts of the casing with the circuit wires.

6. A holder for an electrical contact thermometer, comprising a tubular casing adapted to receive the thermometer and provided with a fixed contact in engagement with one of the contacts of the thermometer, and a plurality of contacts on diametrically opposite sides of the casing, adapted to e'ngagethe contacts of the thermometer and adjustable relatively to said first named contact, and thereby adapted for engagement with the thermometer at different contacts thereon and at diametrically opposite sides thereof, as may be desired, and means for connecting said contacts on the holder with the circuit wires.

7 A holder for an electric contact thermometer, comprising a hollow casing provided withmeans for receiving and holding athermometer therein; and. a plurality of electrical binding posts adapted to engage the contacts of the thermometer, certain of said binding posts being adapted to Work two together, engaging the thermometer at diametrically opposite sides thereof; where by each forms an abutment for the other to relieve the stemof the thermometer from lateral strain.

8. A holder for an electrical contact thermometer, comprising a hollow casing provided with longitudinal slots on opposite sides thereof, and adapted to receive a thermometer therein; and binding posts adapted to be held in adjusted positions in said slots and provided with means for engaging the contacts of the thermometer, said means being adapted to engage the thermometer tube when shifted from the contact engaging position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

WINFIELD s. ATCHISO'N.

\Vitnesses IvoN PHILLIPS,

WM. E. BAHR. 

